Henry smiled upon him indulgently; his old relation of protector to the younger boy had grown stronger during this trip; in the forest he was his comrade's superior by far, and Paul willingly admitted it; in such matters he sought no rivalry with his friend.
"I wonder what they are doing way down there ?" said Paul, waving his hand toward the southeast.

"Just think of it, Henry! they are only one little spot in the wilderness, and we are only another little spot way up here! In all the hundreds of miles between, there may not be another white face!" "It is likely true, but what of it ?" replied Henry.

"The bigger the wilderness the more room in it for us to roam in.

I would rather have great forests than great towns." He turned lazily and luxuriously on his side, and, gazing into the red coals, began to see there visions of other forests and vast plains, with himself wandering on among the trees and over the swells.

His comrades said nothing more because it was comfortable in their little camp, and the peace of the wilds was over them all.